THE FINISHING TOUCHES

Shannon News, 29 December 1926, Page 2

THE FINISHING TOUCHES

- ■ ♦ MKS JACK. LONDON UOMJ?LETES J.L.’S NOVEL. Charmian London has taken to fiction writing. Jack London’s mate and biographer is now planning to write novels of her own. Before she does so, however, she will finish the book “Eyes of Asia,’’ on which Jack London was engaged when he died, 10 years ago. states an American writer. True to her name, Charmian London lias returned from a year’s stay ;)i Europe as charming and youthful as ever. Beyond- the Atlantic she v.i'.s eu!i-routed with the fact that Jack London’s popularity is growing with every year. This is particularly noticeable’ since the war. Countries like Germany, which had been but superficially interested in the author’s work, have suddenly discovered him. ' London’s Berlin publishers, the Universitas Verlag, have already niadb arrangements to publish six of his novels a year and are now considering translating. Charmian’s biography of her husband. By the way, this last is appearing in France at this time, in the “Revue do Paris,” to be followed by book publication in the near future, relates Mrs London. . TRANSLATION SOLD OUT. In Paris, too, the translation of the first volume of London's “Valley of the Moon*’ was practically sold out when it- appeared; 9000 volumes out of the 10,000 edition were, sold within a few days and a new edition had to be rushed. At the time when Mrs London was in Paris, Professor Michaud, of the University of California, was lecturing on Jack London to his classes at the, Sorbonne, While Hermann George ScliMfauer, long an intimate of the Londons, was doing the same before the University of Berlin. • In Italy Jack London - enjoys an ever increasing popularity, but his , books are reprinted there without alny authorisation of the heirs, due to a peculiarity of the copyright laws. In Sweden the spread of London’s 1 popularity is enormous, according to the population, says Charmian London, basing' her words on the reports of the Voluntary Peoples' Education Society. London’s works are as widely read as those of the country’s own greatest authors — .Selma Lagerlof, August Strindberg, Werner von Heidenstam , and the younger Swedish writers. , Russia First. i Russia was. among the first' European countries to appreciate Jack London; r and, despite her perturbation, tne r famous American’s popular- •? ty is not abating. Poland has * lately become interested in London and is translating his books. Norway and Denmark read him and clamour for more translations, m the latter country Charmian London had what she calls a unique experience-—she spoke directly through the micro- . phone to more than 40,000 persons, Covering the green hills at Rebild on the American Fourth of July, She explained that Americans' born in Denmark brought this picturesque section and presented it to the Dan-, •ish State. It is the only ground, outside'-pf the United State's and dependencies, where Independance Day' is observed. A rousing reception greeted her English speech, understood by many . in the great, crowd.